101 Reasons to visit Namibia: The Waterberg plateau

What has walls but no castle, a summit but no peak, and protects some of Namibia’s 
rarest wildlife without a single lock or key? Yes, it is a giant table mountain, that many 
tourists pass by without even realizing. No, we are not in Cape Town. We are standing 
about 200 meters high while looking down over the Namibian bushveld. The Waterberg Plateau is a true beauty with its striking, flat-topped sandstone massif.

About 68 kilometres from Otjiwarongo rises a table mountain, a prominent landmark in 
Namibia. The Waterberg Plateau is an oasis that borders the Kalahari and towers about 
200 meters above the surrounding bushveld. This sandstone formation creates an oasis
that retains rainwater, resulting in little natural springs. In 1956, the plateau was 
declared a National Monument, and in1972 the mountain and some 405 square 
kilometres of surrounding land were declared a Nature Reserve. 

While many wild animals in Namibia fight for survival in the harsh desert, the wild 
animals from the Waterberg are truly on vacation in the Caribbean! The plateau is 
largely inaccessible from beneath creating a safe haven for the animals from poachers
and predators. Several endangered animal species were relocated to this area. 

Photo credits: Janke Murray

Today, tourists can visit the Waterberg Plateau while exploring over 500 species of 
plants, 200 species of birds and animals like buffalo, rhinos, blue wildebeest, oryx, 
kudu, zebra and plenty more! For those birdwatchers this is the place to be! From the 
biggest bird to the heaviest, they inhabit the forests of the plateau. There are also a few 
endemic bird species found here, like the Rüppel’s parrot, the Damara rock thrush and 
Hartlaub’s francolin.

Not only is this an animal paradise, but it is also rich in history. For the history lover, the 
Waterberg is a monument of colliding forces. The Waterberg has always been a place of 
living because of the springs and game found there. On their way to Etosha, explorers 
Francis Galton and Charles Andersson encountered the San and Damara, and Herero 
people. Conflict between the tribes was nothing new, but after a devastating cattle 
plague in 1897 many of the Hereros were driven to poverty and famine. In 1904 the 
Herero rose against the German regime in Okahandja. After many battles the main 
forces concentrated at the Waterberg. The fight lasted for a day and many of the Herero 
people fled to Bechuanaland, nowadays Botswana. The battle took the lives of many 
people!

The mountain of water is an oasis, a fortress and memorial site. It was once a battlefield
and now a place of conservation and definitely a place worth visiting. Here, any traveller 
will find, peace and tranquillity and have time to think about the past, present and 
future!

Author: Janke Murray